Capper



Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAPPER' Application November 14, 1931, Serial No. 574,946

Claims. (Cl. 226-881) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved depositingmachine and, in its more specific aspects, aims to provide an apparatus by means of which articles, and particularly caps, are deposited upon receptacles.

With this in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this character by means of which manual handling of the articles will be reduced to a minimum. This is particularly desirable where milk bottles are being capped, in that operators hands will not touch the pouring lip of the receptacle nor the inner face of the cap. Moreover, no delay will be experienced in applying the caps to the receptacles after the latter are filled and it will be practical to have a substantially continuous cycle of operation involving filling of the receptacles, capping of the same and sealing thereof.

A further object of the invention is that of constructing a depositing or capping machine which will be of an automatic character and. which will take cognizance of the fact if the receptacle is not in proper operative position with respect to the same so that no cap will be deposited under these circumstances.

A still further object is predicated upon providing a capper or depositor which not alone will perfectly position 'a cap in place, but will also tend to center the receptacle with respect to the apparatus if such receptacle is out of proper alignment with reference thereto.

Among other, objects are those of furnishing an apparatus of this character which will embody relatively few and individually simple and rugged parts, these parts being capable of ready assembla'ge to provide a machine operating over long periods of time with freedomfrom difiiculty and which may be sold at a relatively nominal figure.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the in-' vention and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a depositing machine or capper;

Sufiice it to say that the latter may be in the form of a treadle or a power-driven shaft suitably timed with reference to the conveyor which feeds the receptacles. Also, according to the present layout of apparatus, one pair of recep- 5 tacles is simultaneously capped. Obviously a greater or lesser number of receptacles might be operated upon by mechanism following the teachings of the present invention.

Thus, in these several views the numeral 5 indicates posts to which a bracket 6 is secured in any suitable manner, as, for example, by set screws 1. Centrally disposed between these posts is an operating rod 8. This rod preferably has sliding bearing in the bracket 6 and is moved, II as afore brought out, in any suitable manner to actuate the apparatus hereinafter described.

In the capping art, and especially where receptacles of the milk bottle type are involved,

different heights of receptacles will be encoun tered. In other Words, the machine may for a certain period of, time act to cap bottles of the half pint size; thereafter it may function to cap bottles of the pint or quart size, etc. It is with this in mind that the bracket 6 is preferably mounted to be adjustable along the posts 5. Likewise, the head (hereinafter described) should be capable of movement throughout various ranges in accordance with the height of the receptacle to be capped and it is preferred that the rod be notched as at 9, so that in addition to supporting the head (hereinafter described) it may accommodate the edge of a spring pressed plate l0 mounted by this head. In this manner this portion of the apparatus may be conveniently 86 adjusted.

Referring to the head, it preferably includes a body ll encircling the upper end of the post 8 and this head mounts-in the present embodimenta pair of tubes l2. These tubes have ad- 0 jacent central extensions, providing, in co-operation with rail portions l3, a guide structure. These rail portions may be formed as a part of or secured to a central arm 14 of the bracket 6' and this arm, together with other parts of the 5 bracket may provide contact or pad portions IS, the purpose of which will be hereinafter brought out. v

Each of the tubes I2 is preferably coimterbored to receive magazines 16, each containing a stack of caps or similar articles, and by the construction described, it will be apparent that by reciprocating the rod 8, a corresponding moveadequate to permit the lower ends of the tubes to clear the upper edges of receptacles positioned below the same or to enclose the upper. ends of such receptacles. Accordingly, the stack of caps within each magazine 16 on tube l2 will be brought to positions overlying the pouring lips of the receptacles and will also be moved to a point relatively remote therefrom.

.Now, with a view to providing a mechanism which will serve to support the stack of caps and to individually deposit the same upon a series of receptacles, it will be noted, as in; Figure 1, that preferably at least three actuating units are provided in association with each of the tubes and adjacent the lower ends thereof. These units are preferably equally spaced and mounted be-. tween pairs of bracket portions l1 extending from the outer face of the tube. These units may each include a, pair of spaced plates 18 supported upon a pin or shaft l9, which latter is fixed to and extends between the arms of the brackets H. Each of these pins is formed with a radially extending abutment or latch portion 20 and cooperating with this abutment or latch portion is the reariend of a lever 2|, pivotally mounted as at 22, between the pairsof plates I8. Springs 23 are provided, one for each of the units, and each of these springs has its upper end suitably attached to the body of the head I I or to any Supported between each pair of arms I! is a tooth member 25 formed with a projection 26,

which,as hereinafter described-performs the,

functions of a restraining, separating and ejecting element. This tooth member carries a stop pin 27 which rides within a notch 28 formed in the edges of the plates l8, and a spring pressed rod 29 normally serves to tend to press the tooth member beyond the position shown in Fig. 3.

Finally, with reference to the actuating memhers, it will be noted that those portions of the I plates l8 which are adjacent to the pin 24 follow a path of travelas the tubes are raised and lweredin which they will strike against the portions l5 of the bracket 6 and the arm l4 thereof.

Consequently, in operation it will be appreciated that with the magazines l6 filled with caps or similar articles, and with receptacles below the tubes l2, an operator by simply eflfecting an elevating of the post 8, together with the head carried thereby, will cause all of the parts other than those associated with the bracket 6 to move upwardly to a point at which the outer ends of the plates I8 co-act with the portions l5 to rock these plates to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. In such position it will be observed that the levers 2| extend outwardly into supporting relationship with respect to the cap stack and that the projections 26 of the tooth members 25 are retracted with the pin 21 in engagement with the inner end wall of the cut-out or slot 28.

As the head lowers, the parts will be main-' inner end of the lever will bein engagement with the abutment or lug 20, this serving as alatch structure preventing any further movement of the several parts. Continued downward movement on the part of the head will eventually result in the outer ends of the levers 2| camming against the pouring lips of the two underlying receptacles (conceding that a pair of tubes are employed). This camming action will cause the receptacles to be centralized with respect to the tube axes if the receptacles are slightly ofi position. Continued downward movement will cause the outer ends of the levers to swing upwardly with respect to the plates l8. Consequently, the latch afforded by the abutment and the rear end of the lever will be released and thereupon, due to the urging of the spring 23, the plates l8 will swing around the pivots l9. This will release the pin 21 from engagement with the for- 15 ward edges of the plates and consequently the projections 26 will enter the space between the lowermost cap and the second cap, which will support all caps beyond the first cap; will separate the first cap from the overlying stack and2o will additionally cam against the walls of the lowermost cap to cause the same to be ejected from the stack. The plates l8 will finally move to a position at which the ends of the levers 2| entirely clear the skirt of the cap and permit the same to drop on to the receptacle. Movement of the plates beyond a predetermined position is prevented by engagement of the rear edge of the slot or cut-out portion 28 with the pin 21, and it will be understood that the parts are 30 now in a position at which the latch structure between the abutment 20 and the rear end 01" the lever is released; the outer end ofthe lever is supporting-no caps, these being all supported upon the projection 26 of the tooth members, and the spring 23 has moved the plates to their second extreme position. m

At this time it will be appreciated that 11' desired, and as has been indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, a coil spring 30 may be employed which'40 tends normally to press the latching inner end of each lever towards the lug so that no difliculties will be experienced in this connection.

' Under the influence of the rod 8, the parts will now rise until the outer ends of the plates i8 strike the portions l5 associated with the bracket 6. Under continued upward movement the plates l8 will now be rocked back to the position shown in Figures '2 and3, it being appreciated that due to the notch 28 the projections of the tooth members 25 will not be withdrawn from supporting relationship with respect to the stack until the levers 21 are in position to receive the same. In such positions the parts are in the initial condition previously described, and the entire cycle of operation may be repeated indefinitely.

Thus, a machine is provided which, in the embodiment under consideration, will efilciently deposit a single article upon each of the receptacles and in which if no receptacle is presented no depositing will follow because the levers 2| will not be tripped. As previously brought out, the spring pressed plate In permits of an accurate positioning of the head in accordance with the height of the receptacles to which caps or similar elements are to be applied. Adjustment in this connection is also provided by the set screws or their equivalents by means of which the bracket may be adjusted along the posts. A I

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention, as specifically afore noted, are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts--ac-. 76

be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A depositing machine including, a frame, a cap magazine movably carried thereby, means secured to said magazine for singly discharging said caps, said means being normally'inoperative, additional means responsive to the presence of a receptacle to be capped for releasing .said cap discharging means, and an'abutment carried by said frame and cooperating with said cap discharging means whereby the latter is reset when said magazine is shifted with respect to said frame.

2. A depositing machine including a support, .a magazine movably carried thereby, said magazine comprising a guide for articles to be deposited, a plate normally connected to said guide, a lever rockingly mounted by said plate, a tooth member movably connected to said magazine, meansfor normally maintaining said lever and plate in projected positions wherein they support articles within said magazine and adjacent said guide, means for normally maintaining said,

tooth member in a position at which no articles are engaged thereby, and means operable upon said lever engaging a unit upon which an article is to be deposited for releasing said maintaining means to cause shifting of the lever and plate to a position at which no article support occurs and to cause shift of said tooth member to a position at which articles within said magazine are supported thereby.

3. A depositing machine including a support,

. a magazine movably carried thereby, said magazine comprising a guide for articles to be deposited, a plate normally connected to said guide, alever rockingly mounted by said plate, a tooth member movably connected to said magazine, means for normally maintaining said lever and plate inprojected positions wherein they support articles within said magazine and adjacent said guide, means for normally maintaining said tooth member in a position at which no articles are engaged thereby, means operable upon said lever engaging a unit upon which an article is to be deposited for releasing said maintaining means to cause shifting of the lever and plate to a position at which no article support occurs and to cause shift of said tooth member to a position at which articles within said magazine are supported thereby, and means forming a part of said tooth member and functioning during the 5 shifting thereof to cause the same to cooperate with an article to deposit the latter.

4. A depositing machine including a support, a magazine movably carried thereby, said magazine comprising a guide for articles to be depos 1o ited, a plate normally connected to said guide, a

lever rockingly mounted by said plate, a tooth member movably connected to said magazine, means for normally maintaining said lever and plate in projected positions wherein they support 15 articles within said magazine and adjacent said guide, means controlled by said plate and lever for normally maintaining said tooth member in a position at which no articles are engaged thereby, and means operable upon said lever engaging 20 a unit upon which an article is to be deposited for releasing said lever and plate maintaining means to cause said lever and plate to shift to a position at which no article support occurs, such shifting additionally resulting in a release of 25 said tooth member maintaining means whereby said member shifts to a position at which articles associated with said magazine are supported by said member.

5. A depositing machine including a support, a 30 magazine movably carried thereby, said magazine comprising a guide for articles to be deposited, a plate normally connected to said guide, a lever rockingly mounted by said plate, a, tooth member movably connected to said magazine, 5 means for normally maintaining said lever and plate in projected positions wherein they support articles within said magazine and adjacent said guide, means for normally maintaining said tooth member in a position at which no articles 40 are engaged thereby, means tending to retract said lever and plate, means tending to project said tooth member, and means operable upon said lever engaging a unit upon which an article is to be deposited for releasing said maintaining means to cause shifting of the lever and'plate to a position at which no article support occurs and to cause shift of said tooth. member to a position at which articles within said magazine are supported thereby. 5o H. KNOWLES. 

